Top 10 Large Format 3D Printers

When it comes to lrage format 3D printing, size does matter. Kit built 3D printers and cheap kickstarter printers are fine for 3D printing small trinkets; But after you learn the basics of 3D printing on these dainty machines, you come to realize that you want a printer that can actually print something bigger than a trinket. You discover as you get 3DHub orders that you want to print large cosplay props and small batches of items. With that in mind here is my list of the top 10 3D printers that have a build plate greater than 200 x 200 mm

Sidenote: Save your STL Files in the cloud> Tired of carrying all your important documents? Be smart and load/access your important files/media remotely from anywhere with citrix hosted applications by CloudDesktopOnline. For hosted SharePoint and other hosted software products visit www.Apps4Rent.com.

Lulzbot Taz 6: Lulzbot is known for high quality and dependable printers. The Taz 6 is their newest large print volume (280 mm x 280 mm x 250 mm) printer.Taz 6’s also feature bed auto leveling and nozzle cleaning. These two features are an upgrade from the Taz 5’s.

gCreate gMax 1.5 XT+: The gMax series has made the new as a reliable large format 3D printer. The new series 1.5+ features a dual zone heated build plate, which saves you power as if you print a smaller item. You can turn off the outer heating zone, leaving you a small 8 8 in print area for small parts.At 16 x 16 x 21 inches (406.4 x 406.4 x 533.4 mm) the open framed printer can produce large rockets and cosplay props.

Wombot Cubus V2: Australian made Cubus V2 features a whopping 500x500x500 build volume. Cubus also features an enclosed build space and dual extrusion.

Cost: AU 6,999.95

Pros: Enclosed build space and dual extrusion.

Cons: Intergrated spool holder at rear of printer, which can be hard to reach if you want to do a quick filament change.

Cubus 2

3DP Workbench: This industrial 3D printer is perfect for industrial designers and architects that need full size prototypes that don’t need to be assembled from other printers. The workbench can be clamped to a standard workbench surface. It also breaks the mold at a 1 meter x 1 meter x 0.5 m build volume. While the $27,000 price tag puts it in the industrial price range, it is one that can crank out full size cosplay props in a single sitting.

Cost: $27,000

Pros: Large industrial scale build volume for industrial prints.

Cons: Prints that take days at a time. Industrial prices put it out of the price range of home printers.

3DP Workbench

CraftBot XL: A Hungarian printing company, the XL features a 300 x 200 x 440 mm build volume. At $1899.00 this may be an economical model for those looking for more build volume.

Cost: $1899.00

Pros: Affordable large scale printer with a nozzle kit of different sizes.

Cons: Essentially a souped up ultimaker clone.

CraftBot XL

SeeMeCNC Rockstock Max V3: Delta type printers are not known for their volume, but the Max V3 is the exception. With a 265mm D x 400mm H Print Area, the Max V3 has the largest build volume of a delta, and is a solid kit built printer.

Cost: $999.00

Pros: Large scale Delta, good for tall prints.

Cons: A delta kit with 10+ hr build time.

SeMeCNC Rockstock Max

HE 3D EI3 Tricolor: This features a fast (150 mm / sec) print speed and triple extruders in their kit build. To help setup there is automatic bed leveling and a rectangular build volume of 200 x 280 x 200 mm.

Cost: $455.00

Pros: Fast print speed and triple extruders.

Cons: Calibrating triple extruders is time consuming. This is a kit build as well.

He 3D EI3

Folger Tech FT-5 Large Scale Kit: This hawse of a kit features a 300 x 300 x 400 mm build volume. At 45 lbs (21 kg) it is also a heavy printer, which may require a sturdy shelf to support stable printing. For a no thrills large scale printer, this may fit your bill.

Cost: $499.00

Pros: Large volume kit at low cost. No thrills to complicate the build.

Stan Baldwin runs a 3D-PT which is a small 3D printing company started by a science teacher with autism. He has a background in CAD and science education, and believes that 3D printing can be used to help the world. 3D-PT develops products for people with autism and other disabilities. 3D-PT is also developing 3D printable products for education. 3D-PT is online at 3dpt.club Twitter: @3dfidgets

One you should look at is the RB2. Originally it was a Kickstarter with the RigidBot1. The company went under and was taken over by Laser Weld Design, who has released the RB2. These are being closed out for the upcoming RB3. I bought the original KS kit and LOVE the machine. It has a 10 x 10 x 10″ BV and is HIGHLY hackable (my hack/mod list is a mile long) with many high grade upgrade parts and STLs available through our google group. And for support, you can’t beat our group. We have over 2500 members of all specialties from engineers to coders. I think you can still even get an upgrade kit for a 14″ Z expansion and a 12 x 16 frame and bed mod through Laser Weld. And for $769 for the 10 x 10 10″ RB2, it is definitely great value for money. (I am in no way affiliated with Laser Weld, I just love my machine)

A lot of international backers were left in the cold when Inventapart went under, but the new group who got their patents and spares have done an excellent job of keeping the RB alive and thriving. I think they still do educational discounts as well, so you might want to talk to Heath and see what he can do. I know a lot of schools have Rb’s in classrooms that still get maintained.

Features are great, but cost you.. Most large format printers dump features to save for size. At some point fdm will hit its outter speed limit based on the material, leaving the sla / clip market open for large formats.

You may want to check out Relibuild. The RB3 is out now with a version that has a build volume of up to 12 x 16 x 14″. And the price for the size is very reasonable, and when you add it to the things I mentioned in my previous post, you can’t beat it.